Assessment of giraffe populations and

conservation status in East Africa

Update report: March 2015

Background

Giraffe have been largely overlooked in terms of research and conservation in the past, however it

appears that in the last ten years, some populations may have declined by as much as 80%. Giraffe

are beginning to emerge as a real conservation concern and priority; only two of the nine subspecies

(G.c. rothschildi and G.c. peralta) have been assessed for the IUCN Red List at the subspecies level, and

have both been listed as Endangered. The seven remaining subspecies await assessment and it is likely

that several of them will also be listed as threatened due to their restricted range and declining

habitat. Giraffe populations are clearly under threat in the wild and it is vital we increase our

understanding of their current status in order to develop focused conservation strategies.

This project aims to conduct a complete review of the giraffe populations found in Kenya, to collate

many sources and document evidence of population size and distribution. Without accurate

information of population range, distribution and size, it is impossible to make any effective

conservation plans or monitor changes to assess the effects of conservation measures.

Project timeline

The project will be undertaking an extensive review of published literature to collate information on

past and present giraffe distributions and population sizes across Kenya. Population surveys will be

carried out for some populations to gather more recent counts and estimates of giraffe abundance.

The project will be completed in October 2015.

Progress so far

A large volume of information and resources has already been gathered, including survey data, wildlife

journal articles, wildlife reports, newsletters and any source containing information about giraffe

population size and distribution in Kenya. Project members are working through the large volume of

resources gathered, to extract the relevant population counts and distribution data.

Population surveys have been completed for all populations of the Rothschild’s giraffe, G.c. rothschildi.

Population surveys for the Masaai giraffe, G.c. tippelskirchi and reticulated giraffe, G.c. reticulata are

underway and will be completed by October 2015.

Volunteers assisting with population counts in Kenya

COMPLETED WORK

Rothschild’s giraffe: status in Kenya

There are currently thought to be twelve populations of Rothschild’s giraffe remaining in Kenya. This

project has been able to conduct direct counts of seven populations in Kenya, counting a total of 320

individuals. We have been unable to verify the survival or size of five populations. The most recent

estimate for these five populations is from 2010 and totals fewer than 90 individuals. Therefore the

total remaining population of Rothschild’s giraffe in Kenya is 320 ± 90 individuals. Table 1 shows

remaining locations and population figures.

Table 1. The total population of Rothschild's giraffe in Kenya. Table displays actual count data for seven confirmed populations and estimated data for five unverified populations.

Giraffa Camelopardalis rothschildi IUCN status: Endangered

Population size Status Threats

ACTUAL COUNT DATA 2014/15

Ruma National Park 68 Stable Poaching, habitat loss

Lake Nakuru National Park 89 Stable / declining Predation

Soysambu Conservancy 78 Increasing Inbreeding, disease

Kigio Conservancy 32 Increasing Inbreeding, disease

Ruko Conservancy 9 Increasing None

Giraffe Centre, Nairobi 10 Stable Inbreeding, predation

Mwea National Reserve 34 Stable / increasing Poaching, habitat loss

TOTAL 320

ESTIMATE DATA 2010 – UNVERIFIED 2014/15

Mt. Elgon NP <20 Unknown Habitat loss, poaching

Murgor Farm, Iten <20 Unknown Habitat loss, poaching

Sergoit -Kruger Farm, Iten <20 Unknown Habitat loss, poaching

Kitale area farm <10 Unknown Habitat loss, poaching

Nasalot National Reserve <10 Unknown Habitat loss, poaching

TOTAL <90

ONGOING WORK Masaai giraffe: status in Kenya

The Masaai giraffe is found in southern Kenya and throughout Tanzania. In Kenya, the Masaai giraffe

is found in the Masaai Mara, Tsavo and Amboseli conservation areas. Currently there are an estimated

37,000 remaining in the wild, but there is little data available on how many individuals are located in

Kenya. The Masaai giraffe has not yet been assessed at the subspecies level for inclusion in the IUCN

Red List, but an assessment is currently underway.

Recent research uncovered a 95% decline in wildlife population figures in the Masaai Mara, with

giraffe populations thought to have fallen by as much as 80%. There is a clear and urgent need for

clarification over population figures of the Masaai giraffe in Kenya, which this project will contribute.

Reticulated giraffe: status in Kenya

The reticulated giraffe is found in northern Kenya. There are estimated to be fewer than 4,700

individuals remaining in the wild. This subspecies is confined to northern Kenya in a region where

there is widespread food insecurity and drought, making the reticulated giraffe vulnerable to

population decline due to poaching and climatic changes. The reticulated giraffe has not yet been

assessed at the subspecies level for inclusion in the IUCN Red List, but an assessment is currently

underway. This project aims to collate information and data on population status and distribution to

identify priorities for conservation.

Full report to be completed in October 2015.